DBW

For over 1.6 billion people of African descent worldwide, the next ten years offer an opportunity to move beyond awareness toward measurable equity. The recognition of this second decade invites governments, institutions, and communities to actively redress the ongoing legacies of slavery, colonialism, and structural racism that continue to shape economic, social, and political life across continents.

This is not just a public health issue—it is a global justice issue. Whether in a modern hospital in New York or a rural clinic in Nigeria, Black women are asking the same question: Why are we not being heard? The crisis reveals a deep structural failure that spans continents. But it also highlights the strength of communities fighting for change—from grassroots doulas in Detroit to mobile clinics in Ghana.

Brazil has one of the highest rates of racial inequality in the world, and the favelas—informal settlements housing over 11 million people—are at the center of this crisis. Dominated by poor infrastructure, state abandonment, and militarized policing, these communities have long been written off. But within them, Black women are building networks, redefining leadership, and making visible the invisible work of care, resistance, and justice.

Though divided by geography, they are united by a shared burden: environmental racism. This systemic pattern places polluting industries near communities of color, threatening health, dignity, and human rights. Yet, these communities are not passive recipients—they are challenging, resisting, and reimagining their futures.